"Here Come the Irish" performed by John Scully '80 and Cathy Richardson

An Initiative for the Future

"I dreamed of building a great university for Our Lady, but I built it too small."

When Father Sorin uttered those famous words in 1879, he was effectively recommitting his life to planting seeds for the future. He was by this time an old man, and he knew—indeed, he hoped and prayed—that the fruits of his work would be enjoyed by future generations.

This is what we ask of our planned-gift benefactors: to build a Notre Dame that is “bigger and better than ever,” for all those who are yet to come. This is serious business. Yet I hope you feel, as Father Sorin did, that it is also joyous and faithful work.

The University launched Love Thee Notre Dame, a gift-planning initiative aimed at encouraging greater numbers of the Notre Dame family to plant seeds for the future via a bequest or other planned gift.

Increasing the ranks of our planned-gift benefactors—and encouraging them to share their plans with the University—could have a transformative effect on Notre Dame, permitting us to more accurately and aggressively plan for the future while helping to keep the cost of an ND education in check for current students.

To those who have already created a planned gift, I extend my warmest thanks. To those who have not yet done so, I would only encourage you to prayerfully consider it. Each gift builds a bigger and better Notre Dame.